Loggerhead Marinelife Center

At Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) in Jupiter, Fl., it is said that “The turtles tell us the health of the ocean, and the ocean tells us the health of the planet.”

Since opening in 1989, LMC has promoted ocean conservation of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) species through education, research, and rehabilitation. By documenting the day-to-day life at LMC, from routine treatments, examining and evaluating predated hatchlings, and even the release of sea turtle patients back to the ocean, this body of work dives beneath the surface and tells the story not only of what LMC does to help sea turtles but ultimately the health of the ocean and the planet.

Dr.Max Polyak, the Director of Rehabilitation at LMC in Juno Beach Fl., examines a leathback hatchling that was brought in for predation by the centers research team on June 18, 2021. Predation from animals is one of the more common reasons hatchlings are brought into the center.

Taylor Clasen, a Hospital Technician at LMC washes off a newly recieved Loggerhead turtle hatchling on August 9 ,2021. During an initial accessment of a patient the hospital staff cleans the hatchlings to allow for ease when completing their first exam.

Ashley Issac, the Clinical Data Manager and Vet Technician at LMC puts a hatchling back into its tank after feeding on August, 13, 2021. At LMC hatchlings are placed into smaller containers during feeding time to allow for the hospital staff to view their eating patterns easier.

A Loggerhead hatchling turtle crawls into the waves after leaving its nest at Juno Beach Fl. on August 10, 2021. Once a hatchling enters the water it begins a 5-10 mile journey to the Sargasto Sea where they will spend their early years.

Stephen Schwartz, an education docent, gives a public tour in the Exhibit Hall to a family visiting for the first time on June 1, 2021. Schwartz, whose favorite part of his job is interacting with the "younger generations" has been an education volunteer at LMC since 2014.

A grandmother points out different fish to her granddaughter (names withheld) as they look into one of four fish tanks in the Exhibit Hall. This tank is meant to mimic the ocean environment of Juno Beach, FL. where the center is located.

Dr. Max Polyak and Ashley Issac performs a cardiac ultrasound on Green sea turtle patient, Gabe in front of a Veterinary Study Abroad group during their course at the center on August 13, 2021. Gabe entered the hospital suffering from a bouyancy disorder as well as some previous trauma to his shell on February 22, 2021.

Loggerhead sea turtle patient, Eau-Lympia, recieves an IV treatment as part of her regimen in an effort to enhance her prognosis. Eau-Lympia was admitted to the center as a patient suffering from chronic debilitation, a disease that results in the turtles inability to eat and absorb nutrients.

Loggerhead sea turtle patient, Eau-Lympia, comes up for a breath while in her tank. Sea turtles can go anywhere from four to seven hours holding their breath underwater.

Loggerhead turtle, Little T, being transferred by rehab volunteers and hospital staff out of his tank for his regular medical check up on June 8, 2021. Like many of the turtles patients at LMC, Little T recieved his name from one the center's donors.

Taylor Clasen, measures the shell of Loggerhead turtle, Parrothead, during their pre-release exam. When turtles enter and leave the care of the center they undergo basic exams which help to measure the progress made during their time at the center.

Parrothead being transferred onto Juno Beach for his release via a gurney. The gurneys used by the center are made specially with tires that work in sand and donated straps that have been removed from race cars. Due to their size for their safety they are securely fasten to a gurney when transporting them.

Parrothead looks forward as he enters the water during his release on Juno Beach. Parrothead came to the center for a second time after being found with extreme trauma to his shell which resulted in his caudal spine to be severed leaving him without the use of their rear flippers.